BidVest Wits head coach Roger de Sa has set his players a target of seven points from their three Absa Premiership fixtures this month, starting with a tough trip to Atteridgeville’s Super Stadium on Sunday where they play second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns. Kick-off is at 6pm.
Said De Sa: ”This is a big month for us. I reckon if we collect seven points — which I reckon is more than within our reach — then we would be right up there with the league pace setters.”
After Sundowns, Wits play Thanda Royal Zulu at home and then travel to Pietermaritzburg to play Maritzburg United. Both clubs are still in the relegation mix despite big wins last weekend.
Said De Sa, the former Bafana Bafana and Sundowns goalkeeper: ”Without being disrespectful,we should beat TRZ and United. But my priority is beating Downs on Sunday.”
The students are fresh from beating Platinum Stars 1-0 at home to move into seventh place with 28 points — only three behind Downs.
”This is a really tight league this season. We played well and got our rewards, so I was pleased with the players. I said before we played Stars that beating them was vital. Losing would have ended our title hopes, but winning keeps us in the hunt.”
The defeat has plunged Stars into the relegation quagmire. They are on 22 points, equal with TRZ and Maritzburg.
De Sa respects Downs but said the Clever Boys would not go to the Super Stadium shaking in their boots after the Brazilians started getting their act together and will be hoping to notch their third win on the bounce.
Said De Sa: ”We beat Downs away last season and can upset them again. No team in this league is unbeatable. If we beat Sundowns we will have the same number of points as them. That is how close it is and that fact is a huge incentive for us to win.”
De Sa also stated the magic number to beat relegation is 30 points.
He explained: ”I do not want to be negative but I always like to get past that 30-point mark, which I also say is the safety mark.”
De Sa said with the league going into the final straight he stressed that none of the title challenges can afford to slip up. ”The teams that suffer a wobble at this stage will fall away. But one thing that is for sure is this season has been one of the most competitive and interesting. Any one of eight teams could win the championship while the bottom six teams are all in the relegation quagmire.”
De Sa has uncovered two new budding stars in striker Sam Ramasoeu who can also play on the wing and Tebogo Langerman who is a promising left wing.
Botswana born Ramasoeu and Langerman were promoted from the Wits Vodacom feeder side. Ramasoeu scored against Stars last weekend on debut, but he will still have to fight for his place with Richard Rantjie returning after injury.
Said De Sa: ”Both youngsters, Langerman and Ramasoeu, have potential. I am really pleased with the way they have developed in our feeder side. That is why I promoted them but nobody is guaranteed a place and everyone, including Rantjie, will have to show me he deserves to start against Sundowns.”
The only player not available is striker Dale Studzinski, who will be out for another two weeks with injury. — Sapa